Other Arbitral Institutions

There are numerous other arbitral institutions which, although not necessarily as well known as the institutions dealt with separately on this site, have their own sets of rules.

Click on the links below for information on the American Arbitration Association "AAA"), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and other Trade Associations.

American Arbitration Association

The American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The AAA was established in 1926 as an independent, not-for-profit association. Its Commercial Arbitration Rules are available here. In addition, the AAA also acts as an appointing authority and administers arbitrations conducted under the UNCITRAL rules. The AAA has an international arm, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (“ICDR”), in turn established in 1996. The ICDR has its own set of International Arbitration Rules under its International Dispute Resolution Procedures (which were last amended in 2021).The administrative costs of the institution (an Initial Filing Fee and a Final Fee) are based on the amount in dispute. The International Dispute Resolution Procedures are available here.

The ICDR’s most recent revisions to the International Dispute Resolution Procedures took effect from 1 March 2021 and include new provisions such as, amongst others, expanded provisions on consolidations, amendments to further improve transparency and arbitrator impartiality, and a new rule on early disposition (click here to read more).

On 1 November 2013, the AAA and ICDR introduced new Optional Appellate Arbitration Rules (“Appellate Rules”) – a separate set of rules under which parties are able to obtain private review by an appellate arbitral panel of alleged “material and prejudicial” errors of law and/or “clearly erroneous” determinations of fact in an arbitral award. The appeal panel can either affirm the arbitral award under appeal, or substitute its own award. The Appellate Rules will only apply upon the express agreement of the parties, and their use is not restricted to AAA or ICDR arbitration. The Appellate Rules are available here.

 

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators ("CIArb") was founded in 1915. Its headquarters are in London and, although a significant portion of its members are non-UK based and it has branch organisations world-wide, it is often perceived to be UK domestic orientated.

The Institute offers various dispute appointment services and also has its own set of arbitration rules; in September 2015, these were fully revised into the CIArb's new 2015 Arbitration Rules. These are based on the 2010 UNCITRAL Rules and are suitable for international arbitration (as opposed to the preceding 2000 CIArb Rules which were intended for use in arbitrations under the English Arbitration Act 1996). The CIArb's 2015 Arbitration Rules modify the UNCITRAL Rules in a number of ways including the introduction of an emergency arbitrator procedure and various other provisions designed to promote procedural efficiency.

The CIArb's 2015 Arbitration Rules will, unless the parties agree otherwise, apply to any arbitration under the CIArb Rules in which notice of arbitration is submitted on or after 1 December 2015 (with the exception of the emergency arbitrator provisions which only apply to arbitration agreements entered into before that date if the parties also expressly opt-in to them; by contrast, in relation to the same entered into on or after 1 December 2015 the emergency arbitrator provisions will apply automatically unless the parties expressly opt-out).  

The Institute issues a model arbitration clause, as well as practice guidelines and protocols regarding different aspects of the arbitration process for both parties and arbitrators.

Trade Associations

A short description of a selection of trade associations offering specialist arbitration services, together with a link to each association's website:

LME

  • London Metal Exchange
  • LME
  • expertise in metal trade but also arbitrate unrelated commercial work
  • private dispute resolution system "designed to settle disputes fairly, expertly and economically without having to resort to action in the UK or other courts"

LMAA

  • London Maritime Arbitrators Association
  • LMAA
  • arbitrations conducted on the basis of the LMAA Terms (2021)
  • association of practising maritime arbitrators, one of the objects of which is "to advance and encourage the professional knowledge of London maritime arbitrators and, by recommendation and advice, to assist the expeditious procedure and disposal of disputes".
  • has a small claims procedure and an intermediate claims procedure, and a FALCA procedure for more substantial small claims cases.

GAFTA

  • The Grain and Feed Trade Association
  • GAFTA
  • international trade association with over 1900 Members in 100 countries
  • dispute resolution service for parties using GAFTA’s standard forms of contract.
  • subject to the GAFTA Arbitration Rules No.125, or No.126 (Expedited Arbitration Rules)
  • all disputes are adjudicated by qualified arbitrators

ICE

  • Institution of Civil Engineers
  • ICE
  • regulated by the ICE Arbitration Procedure (2012)
  • model dispute resolution procedures
  • choice of different procedures depending on the value of the dispute
  • also maintains ICE specialist registers of dispute resolution service providers for construction and engineering disputes